Setsuna had a lot to rant about, almost recounting everything from the past week.
After Arceus and Kaidou returned to Ghost Island, Zunesha continued to wander around, and Setsuna resumed her daily punch-in routine. She might be the only Fur Race member whose work commute was determined by Zunesha's mood and pace.
"Trading with the World Government?"
Yamato felt that in the half-month she had been away, some significant changes seemed to have occurred on The Sea.
"You haven't read the newspaper lately, have you? It's still those issues with the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Whitebeard's words led to an increase in pirates, so the World Government wants to quickly fill the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Originally, after Blackbeard died, a pirate named Buggy filled the vacancy, but later, Moriah from the Seven Warlords disappeared and was eventually declared dead, creating another gap."
This was the new change on The Sea during the time Yamato was away.
Jinbe and the Empress may have been coasting during the Summit War but have not yet crossed the World Government's line. Both Nine Serpent Island and Fishman Island, in this environment, are considered meaningful allies to the Navy and the World Government, so their positions have remained unchanged.
"Moriah... I remember my father didn't kill him, right? He was quite disappointed at the time."
"I have no idea, anyway, the World Government has declared him dead, and his position as one of the Seven Warlords has been nullified."
The real reason is simple: Moriah had sunk too deep into his decay. Back in Wano Kuni, Kaidou crushed his dreams.
And in the Summit War, Kaidou again demonstrated with force that all Moriah had done over the years was in vain.
Moriah, feeling hopeless about his future, eventually fell into decay. If not for Absalom's continued loyalty, who knows how far he might have fallen.
"But what does that have to do with them attacking Zunesha?"
Zunesha is inherently a terrifying presence. Previously, Zunesha couldn't attack others due to an order, but now it's a giant monster freed from that restraint. Few on The Sea can withstand a hit from it.
"The focus isn't on that, it's on the Fur Race. The World Government seems to have some thoughts about the Fur Race, and since Lindbergh is part of the Revolutionary Army, it lured those guys over."
Impel Down is a magical place, capable of driving people mad or enlightening them. Those who attacked Zou aimed to secure a position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a highly convenient status on The Sea.
One quick way to become one of the Seven Warlords is by capturing a sufficiently notorious wanted criminal, proving one's strength and deterrence.
The World Government has a bounty on the Fur Race, and Lindbergh, a member of the Revolutionary Army, attracted attention with these combined factors.
"Hichugiskhan said Lindbergh and I are the same generation of the Fur Race, but he's always been quick-witted, inventing several small gadgets, and even built a simple flight device to fly away from Zou.
When we next heard from him, he was already a commander in the Revolutionary Army, earning quite a name for himself."
Zou does not restrict the whereabouts of its clan members, as shown by Pekoms who joined the BIG MOM Pirates and Lindbergh who joined the Revolutionary Army.
But correspondingly, those who join other forces must bear the troubles they cause; this is the current rule of Zou.
"So... unable to find the Revolutionary Army's base, they decided to target the hometown of a commander?"
"Exactly, if it weren't for wanting a hostage, Zunesha would have just stomped them to death.
Queen's surveillance equipment is quite good; I'm considering setting up a set for Zou as well. By the way, did you come to find me for something?"
"It's nothing major, just wanted to discuss the mysterious power of diaries with you."
...
"You mean... reading someone else's diary makes you worship them?"
"Uh-huh, I don't quite get it, he's not even the strongest on the ship, how can his diary have such an effect?"
"It's pretty simple, the main character in a self-written diary is obviously the author.
When Miaona and Wolf peeked at my diary, they admired me too, but as they grew up and saw the wider world, they naturally understood many things."
Regarding the diary issue, Setsuna could be considered highly experienced. After years of being a mom, she developed her own parenting philosophies. The situation Yamato described clearly represented a case of failed education.
"Seeing more of the world prevents such problems. Just look at Miaona and Wolf; they understand the concept of wheels within wheels."
"It's... it's that simple?"
"Yes, it's that simple, but it also depends on the diary's author. If he exaggerated, the effect could be more severe.
It couldn't be that an ability user left a curse in the diary, right?"
"I think it's not entirely impossible... After all, her obsession isn't light..."
...
Having received the answers she sought, Yamato decided not to disturb the family further, instead returning to the Little Sky Island, where she and Robin began preparing their travel necessities. During this time, the landscape of The Sea quietly began to shift as well.
"Doffy, a new business opportunity has arrived. Since that war, the demand for both weapons and mercenaries has skyrocketed several times over."
Trebol was reporting the latest developments to Doflamingo. Following the chaotic era initiated by Whitebeard, weapon sales increased dramatically. Even member nations began clandestine weapon purchases to strengthen their military might.
Thanks to the Seastone Mine and Wine Iron Ore, Wano Kuni's weapons are unparalleled, and the outside world cannot replicate them. As the intermediary dealer and Black Market agent, Doflamingo recently made a fortune.
"The demand for Artificial Fruits is also rising. This era truly suits us, but..."
"What is it?"
"Someone is competing with our business. Recently, an organization called Buggy Express has emerged on The Sea. Although they don't sell weapons, they have a huge mercenary group under their command.
At the helm is none other than the newly-appointed member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea - Buggy."
"Hehe, Joker and a clown, huh? That's a rather interesting competition."
"So Doffy, what's your plan?"
Trebol awaited Doflamingo's final decision, while Doflamingo himself pondered.
If it were an ordinary competitor, he would simply take their head, but Buggy was perplexing to him.
During the Summit War, Doflamingo thought Buggy appeared weak. Surviving there seemed miraculous for such a feeble pirate.
In Doflamingo's eyes, Buggy became one of the Seven Warlords due to his escaped convicts underlings.
Yet somehow, he's acquainted with Shanks and was a crew member of Roger, all these titles combined making Doflamingo slightly hesitant....